Lungile Pepeta
{{short description|South African doctor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Lungile Pepeta
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 1974
| birth_place = Bizana, Transkei
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|08|7|1974|df=y}}
| death_place = Life St George's Hospital, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape
| resting_place = Bizana, Eastern Cape, South Africa
| nationality = South African
| education =
| alma_mater = Walter Sisulu University
| occupation = Paediatric cardiologist, medical researcher, educator
| organization =
| known_for = Human rights activism
| children =
| awards =
}}
Lungile Pepeta (1974 – 7 August 2020) was a South African paediatric cardiologist, medical researcher, university professor and activist who also served as the chairperson of the Council of Medical Schemes. Doctor Pepeta was regarded as one of the pioneers of the medical industry in South Africa especially for his crucial contributions regarding child health care.{{Cite web|title='I hope in heaven you are still a trailblazer': Lungile Pepeta laid to rest|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/amp/news/south-africa/2020-08-12-i-hope-in-heaven-you-are-still-a-trailblazer-lungile-pepeta-laid-to-rest/|access-date=2020-08-20|website=TimesLIVE|language=en-ZA}} He also served as the executive dean in the faculty of Health Sciences at Nelson Mandela University and was the former head of the paediatric department and paediatric cardiology at Dora Nginza Hospital.
Biography
Career
In 1997, Pepeta completed his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery at the Walter Sisulu University and obtained his diploma in child health care in 1999. He also completed a Master of medicine in Paediatrics from the University of Witwatersrand and was a fellowship holder of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.{{Cite web|title=Lungile Pepeta - Executive Dean of Pediatric Cardiology in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa {{!}} eMedEvents|url=https://www.emedevents.com/speaker-profile/lungile-pepeta|access-date=2020-08-20|website=www.emedevents.com}}
He qualified as a paediatrician in 2003, specialising in the field of paediatric cardiology since 2008. In 2009, he established Port Elizabeth's first paediatric cardiology unit at the provincial Dora Nginza Hospital and was appointed as head of the paediatrics department at Dora Nginza in 2010. He also introduced non invasive procedures to cure the heart disorders and defects such as congenital heart disorder faced by children in the Eastern Cape. He also mentored and trained many doctors especially related to the field of paediatrics.{{cite journal|last1=Davidson|first1=Alan|last2=Masekela|first2=Refiloe|title=Lungile Pepeta|journal=The South African Medical Journal|date=31 August 2020|volume=110|issue=9|page=830|doi=10.7196/SAMJ.2020.v110i9.15225|url=http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/13079/9482|publisher=Health & Medical Publishing Group|doi-broken-date=10 November 2024 |issn=2078-5135|doi-access=free}}
In January 2017, he joined the faculty of Health Sciences at the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth and became the executive dean of the faculty. He also became a member of the Council of Medical Schemes in November 2017.{{Cite web|title=Mkhize mourns paediatric cardiologist Lungile Pepeta, who died from Covid-19|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-08-13-mkhize-mourns-paediatric-cardiologist-lungile-pepeta-who-died-from-covid-19/|access-date=2020-08-20|website=TimesLIVE|language=en-ZA}}
In June 2020, he was elected as the chairperson of the Council of Medical Schemes eventually replacing Clarence Mini who died on 12 May 2020 due to COVID-19. He was also roped in as a member of a 15-member jury panel of experts advising committee to the provincial government's COVID-19 taskforce.{{Cite web|title=CMS chairperson professor Lungile Pepeta dies of COVID-19|url=https://ewn.co.za/2020/08/08/cms-chairperson-professor-lungile-pepeta-dies-of-covid-19|access-date=2020-08-20|website=ewn.co.za|language=en}}
Death
Pepeta was hospitalized at the Life St George's Hospital in June 2020, and was later revealed to have contracted the coronavirus. He died on 7 August 2020, from COVID-19 complications at the age of 46 during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa.{{Cite web|date=7 August 2020|title=Professor Lungile Pepeta has passed away|url=https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/professor-lungile-pepeta-has-passed-away/|access-date=2020-08-20|website=SABC News – Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Rest in power Prof Lungile Pepeta|url=https://www.heraldlive.co.za/news/2020-08-07-rest-in-power-prof-lungile-pepeta/|access-date=2020-08-20|website=HeraldLIVE|language=en-ZA}}{{cite news|last1=Ellis|first1=Estelle|title=A giant tree has fallen: Prof Lungile Pepeta (1974 – 2020)|agency=Maverick Citizen|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-08-11-a-giant-tree-has-fallen-prof-lungile-pepeta-1974-2020|accessdate=2020-08-20}} Until his death, he served as chairman of CMS as well as the executive dean at Nelson Mandela University. He was pursuing a PhD in paediatrics from the University of Stellenbosch prior to his death.{{Cite web|title=Council for Medical Schemes chairman Pepeta dies of Covid-19|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/council-for-medical-schemes-chairman-pepeta-dies-of-covid-19-a4626a16-a297-4643-bce3-efeec89f09bf|access-date=2020-08-20|website=www.iol.co.za|language=en}}
The funeral was held with category 2 special official provincial respect on 12 August 2020, in Bizana.{{Cite web|title=Condolences for family of renowned paediatric cardiologist who died from Covid-19|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/amp/news/south-africa/2020-08-09-condolences-for-family-of-renowned-paediatric-cardiologist-who-died-from-covid-19/|access-date=2020-08-20|website=TimesLIVE|language=en-ZA}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
External links
- {{Google scholar id|WGX9KYQAAAAJ&hl}}
- {{ResearchGate |Lungile_Pepeta}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pepeta, Lungile}}
Category:African and Black nationalists
Category:South African activists
Category:South African cardiologists
Category:South African philanthropists
Category:Stellenbosch University alumni
Category:Walter Sisulu University alumni
Category:South African medical researchers
Category:People from the Eastern Cape